Edgar Calabia Samar photo

Edgar Calabia Samar

Edgar Calabia Samar is a multi-awarded poet and novelist from the Philippines. His first novel, Walong Diwata ng Pagkahulog, received the NCCA Writer’s Prize in 2005, and its English translation as Eight Muses of the Fall was longlisted in the Man Asian Literary Prize in 2009. In 2013, he received two Philippine National Book Awards––one for his second novel, Sa Kasunod ng 909 (Best Novel), and another for his book on the creative process, Halos Isang Buhay: Ang Manananggal sa Pagsusulat ng Nobela (Best Book of Criticism). Si Janus Silang at ang Tiyanak ng Tabon, the first book in his YA series Janus Silang, also received the Philippine National Book Award for Best Novel in 2015 and the Philippine National Children’s Book Award for Best 2014-2015 Read in 2016. He has also received prizes for his poetry and fiction from the Palanca and the PBBY-Salanga Writer’s Prize. His other books include Pag-aabang sa Kundiman: Isang Tulambuhay, a poetry collection, and 101 Kagila-gilalas na Nilalang, a children's encyclopedia of Philippine fantastic creatures. In 2010, he was invited as writer-in-residence to the International Writing Program of the University of Iowa.


“Lahat, may hinahanap. Pero iba ang natatagpuan nila sa huli. Pero masaya pa rin sila. Lagi pa rin silang masaya.”
Edgar Calabia Samar
Read more
“Salita. Nakasalalay lang ang lahat ng nararamdaman sa narinig na salita, sa mga narinig na salita, sa kapangyarihan ng salita na lumikha ng iba't iba pang ilusyon. Minsan, salita rin, isang salita lamang, ang may kakayahang magwasak ng lahat ng mga binuo, binuno, subalit ng mga salita rin nga lamang.”
Edgar Calabia Samar
Read more
“Isang beses lang tayo makapipili ng daan at pagkatapos noon, paulit-ulit na tayo sa daan na iyon- paikot-ikot, habang kinukumbinsi natin ang sarili na umuusad naman talaga tayo, na nagpapatuloy tayo, na mayroon tayong pinatutunguhan- kahit wala nga, wala naman talaga, paikot-ikot lang tayo sa iisang daan na noon, noong hindi natin alam, noong wala tayong kamalay-malay, ay nagpasya na pala tayo’t pinili nga ito.”
Edgar Calabia Samar
Read more
“Maraming mundo ang bawat tao. Gagawin mo iyon kung wala kang makapa. Dadagdagan mo kung kulang, hahanapin kapag nawawala. Kung matagpuan na, pilit iyong tatakasan ng mga duwag at wawaratin naman ng mga matatapang para makagawa ng iba.”
Edgar Calabia Samar
Read more